Breaking news: Senate approves 4 month delay in DTV transition

[Sandy G]

And this surprises ANYBODY how ?

[zenithfan1]

Originally Posted by Sandy G

And this surprises ANYBODY how ?

[peverett]

This does not supprise me at all considering the running out of money for the coupons, etc. I actually think that this is a good decision. I also think that allowing stations to go ahead and switch if they want is also a good decision. This will alllow a somewhat side by side comparison of DTV vs NTSC analog in areas of the country that have some very bad weather(during the worst weather time of year).

I have already read that in Hawaii, were the switch was made last week, some people have lost the ability to recieve "over the air" TV because of where they live(even with new TVs/Antennas). This
"partial" switch may provide more information about this problem also.

As to the phone companies (as if I feel the least bit sorry for them), their licenses have been extended for the delay period. The only one really complaining is Qualcomm, who want some spectrum(500 million $ worth) for mobile TV.

I agree with MRX37, leave at least some of the VHF spectrum for analog TV, at least for weather information.

[wajobu]

Originally Posted by OvenMaster

The first thing that pops into my mind is whether the companies that purchased spectrum that was to be vacated by analog broadcasters will be compensated for loss of use. Maybe they'll even sue Uncle Sam.

But I agree with Brian. Just be done with it. Besides, chances are that there will be yet another reason to put off the conversion in four months.

PBS is losing millions, because of this. I agree, just be done with it or just keep the analog.

[peverett]

Is PBS not coverted by the "switch if you want" provision? If so, why do they not switch on Feb 17?

[Sandy G]

HDTV/digital has been "5 years away" for at least the last 25 years... If it REALLY offered something as monumentous as color did over B&W, it would be worth it. But from what I've seen, I can only paraphrase one of the great Hollywood moguls-"I was underwhelmed."

[Ultra-Hog]

The bill to delay passed in the Senate but not the House - yet, and the President has not signed it - yet. It's not quite a done deal as far as I know, a forgone conclusion perhaps, but quite done at this moment.

[Ed in Tx]

Just hearing on the news the time extension failed to pass. Still on for Feb 17 as of now.

As per the Dallas Morning News 1:21 PM Wed, Jan 28, 2009: "The U.S. House of Representatives has surprised observers by rejecting a bill to put off the DTV transition from February till June. Actually, the vote was 258 to 168 in favor of delaying the transition, but it needed a two-thirds majority to pass."

[zenithfan1]

Originally Posted by Ed in Tx

Just hearing on the news the time extension failed to pass. Still on for Feb 17 as of now.

As per the Dallas Morning News 1:21 PM Wed, Jan 28, 2009: "The U.S. House of Representatives has surprised observers by rejecting a bill to put off the DTV transition from February till June. Actually, the vote was 258 to 168 in favor of delaying the transition, but it needed a two-thirds majority to pass."

BOOOO!

[zenith2134]

Sandy's right about the color versus B&W thing. Also remember, Color broadcasting was fully backwards compatible with existing B&W sets....

[Brian]

Bet the $150 cost is low. Back in the early '80s when I worked for a county government we costed the issuance and processing of a check exclusive of processing the accounts payable and bank reconciliation. It was $25 and did not include incidentals such as putting it in an envelope, applying postage and mailing as some checks were not mailed.

[Hemingray]

Heard on news 1/28. The bill didn't pass house, Transition looks like it'll be right on 2/17.

[PacificStereo]

<rant>

I would have been a lot happier with the transition if the MARKET had demanded it. It didn't. Nobody cared about HD delivered OTA. But, oh... Congress just HAD to get involved. What a mess. Heck, you couldn't even find a bloody box anywhere (except online) until a couple of months ago.

What's really nasty is the boxes themselves. Only ones with cheesy feature sets qualify for the coupon...? Huh? WTF is that? Why can't I use my coupon for any box I want (as if there actually WAS one I wanted)?

All you can get are hideous Chinese pieces of junk like the Apex, full of artifacts and badly-designed menus. Blah.

If a manufacturer like Sony made a nice converter with REAL FEATURES, like, oh, I dunno... S-video out (yes, I know, there are a couple that do offer S-video)... Component out... HDMI out for the "HD-Ready" sets that didn't come with a tuner... MTS modulated audio so you could distribute stereo on RF throughout the house... I'd be a lot happier.

Has anyone made a small box so that you can bring your Watchman to the ball game? Nope.

Ugh. I don't really care, because I live in an area that doesn't have any OTA signals, anyway. But I am just amazed (but not surprised) at how badly this was botched.

They can't get something as simple as TV right, but they want us to believe they can fix the economy... lol!

</rant>

Okay, I feel better now. :) Bar-cutie! Another round for everyone!

[zenithfan1]

Originally Posted by PacificStereo

<rant>

I would have been a lot happier with the transition if the MARKET had demanded it. It didn't. Nobody cared about HD delivered OTA. But, oh... Congress just HAD to get involved. What a mess. Heck, you couldn't even find a bloody box anywhere (except online) until a couple of months ago.

What's really nasty is the boxes themselves. Only ones with cheesy feature sets qualify for the coupon...? Huh? WTF is that? Why can't I use my coupon for any box I want (as if there actually WAS one I wanted)?

All you can get are hideous Chinese pieces of junk like the Apex, full of artifacts and badly-designed menus. Blah.

If a manufacturer like Sony made a nice converter with REAL FEATURES, like, oh, I dunno... S-video out (yes, I know, there are a couple that do offer S-video)... Component out... HDMI out for the "HD-Ready" sets that didn't come with a tuner... MTS modulated audio so you could distribute stereo on RF throughout the house... I'd be a lot happier.

Has anyone made a small box so that you can bring your Watchman to the ball game? Nope.

Ugh. I don't really care, because I live in an area that doesn't have any OTA signals, anyway. But I am just amazed (but not surprised) at how badly this was botched.

They can't get something as simple as TV right, but they want us to believe they can fix the economy... lol!

</rant>

Okay, I feel better now. Bar-cutie! Another round for everyone!

couldn't agree more....

[MRX37]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29003127...5829?GT1=40000